Josh at large and at home

Top dog at Westminster settles into a life of celebrity and relaxation

March 30, 2004|By Karen Steinrock Special to The Morning Call - Freelance

When Best in Show judge Burton Yamada said those magic words "The Newfoundland!" at last month's Westminster Kennel Club show, large dog fans across the nation rejoiced. It had been years since a giant breed won top honors, and only the second time for a Newfoundland in the show's 128-year history.

TV appearances in the days following Westminster on "Good Morning America," CNN and "Late Night with David Letterman," among others, catapulted the star of the show, CH Darbydale's All Rise Pouch Cove, better known as "Josh," to instant fame. Even people who missed USA network's live coverage of the show at Madison Square Garden in New York City were talking about "the big black dog that won the dog show."

People like a Federal Express man, had quite a surprise when he encountered the Westminster winner the following week while delivering a package to a Flemington, N.J., home.

Knowing the people who lived in that home owned large dogs, but unaware that one of them was Josh, the Fed Ex man struck up a conversation with Josh's owner, Peggy Helming.

Still excited about the Westminster win, he raved about "that beautiful Josh. It's about time a big dog won, don't you think?" he asked Helming, who replied: "Why don't you ask him yourself? He's standing over there looking at you!"

The man was so excited that he begged to use the phone to call his wife, Helming said.

Such is life for the famous, furry 4-year-old, now retired from active showing. Many dogs retire after winning Best in Show at Westminster, considered one of the most prestigious achievements in dogdom. After two years on the show circuit ending in a stunning defeat of 2,600 other champions at Madison Square Garden, Josh is enjoying quality time at home.

Life is posh for Josh

From all accounts, it appears the 155-pound superstar is enjoying his new life of leisure. A typical day for Josh starts with a breakfast of yogurt and kibble, then a good romp in a 3-acre yard with a Portuguese water dog named Kate, his best buddy. A mile walk in the afternoon keeps him in condition. Then, it's back inside with the family and a special dinner of kibble and duck, says Helming.

After beating up some squeaky toys, Josh settles down to watch some television with the Helmings. He prefers high-action films with a lot of sound -- old James Bond movies and the "Die Hard" series are among his favorites. He also enjoys watching himself on the Westminster video, especially when the crowd cheers, Helming says.

One of 12 puppies in his litter, Josh showed star potential right from the beginning.

"He was incredibly balanced, and that fluid harmony of motion you saw in the show ring was there as a puppy," remembers Helming, who traveled to Michigan to evaluate the litter with co-breeder Carol Bergmann. "Add to that his irresistible personality and you have a real champion," she says.

The money question

The public has a lot of misconceptions about Westminster's top dog, and most involve dollar signs. Helming laughs when people ask how much money they win at shows.

"What they should ask is how much do we spend," she says. The cost of promoting a show dog -- expenses such as entry fees, travel and handler fees -- can add up to thousands of dollars during a show season. And, few dog shows offer cash prizes, she explains. Instead, competing and winning is a matter of pride for top breeders, who strive to produce high-quality, purebred dogs.

Another popular misconception is that Josh will be bred for big bucks, and the price of his progeny will skyrocket because of his win. That's not the case, says Helming, founder of Pouch Cove Newfoundlands.

"Nothing changes -- Josh's stud fee and the price of any puppies he produces stays the same," she says, refusing to divulge prices, another fairly standard practice among the breeders of champions. Like any other Westminster winner, Josh will be bred on a very selective and limited basis, adds Helming, who has more that 250 champions to her credit.

Despite all of the show wins and fame during the last two years, Josh is first and foremost the Helmings' beloved pet. Competing in 75 shows last year, he never traveled on an airplane or was sent to a show without the Helmings. He stayed in their hotel room at each stop and now sleeps at the foot of their bed.

Winning at Westminster has turned the lovable lug into an ambassador -- a symbol of responsible breeding and dog ownership. In addition to appearing on several TV shows since the win, he's visited extended-care facilities and "hosted" a veterinary association luncheon.

In June, he'll be presented with the key to the city of Flemington -- actually, a bone -- by its mayor on "Josh Day," an event planned to benefit area animal shelters and the wildlife preserve. The fund-raiser will feature "Josh Dogs and Burgers" and Chocolate Josh Pops, along with music and children's activities.